Bone Fractures

Complete

A fracture in which the bone is broken all the way through into two or more separate pieces.

Incomplete

A fracture in which the bone is cracked or partially broken, but not completely separated into pieces.

Hairline

A very thin, hairline-like crack in the bone (stress fracture) where the pieces remain tightly aligned.

Torus (buckle)

An incomplete fracture common in children where one side of the bone compresses and causes the other side to buckle outward.

Stable

A fracture where the broken ends of the bone remain aligned and do not move out of place, usually healing more easily.

Unstable

A fracture where the broken bone ends are displaced, misaligned, or prone to shifting out of place, often requiring reduction or surgical stabilization.

Closed

A fracture in which the broken bone does not break through or puncture the skin (also known as a simple fracture).

Open (compound)

A fracture in which the broken bone pierces through the skin, creating an open wound and a high risk of infection.

Pathological

A fracture that occurs in a bone weakened by an underlying disease process (such as osteoporosis, infection, or tumor) from normal or minimal stress.

Greenstick

An incomplete fracture common in children where the bone bends and cracks on one side rather than breaking completely through (resembling a fresh green tree branch).

Avulsion

A fracture where a small chunk of bone is torn away from the main bone by the forceful pull of an attached tendon or ligament.

Comminuted

A fracture in which the bone is broken, splintered, or crushed into three or more pieces at the fracture site.

Intra-articular

A fracture line that extends into and crosses the surface of a joint, which can damage the joint cartilage.

Transverse

A fracture line that runs straight across the bone at a right angle (90 degrees) to the long axis of the bone.

Longitudinal

A fracture line that runs lengthwise or parallel along the long axis of the bone.

Oblique

A fracture line that runs diagonally or at an angle across the bone shaft.

Spiral

A fracture line that twists around the bone shaft, typically caused by a rotational or twisting force on the limb.

Impacted

A fracture in which the broken ends of the bone are driven or jammed into each other by the force of the injury.

Compression

A fracture typically occurring in spongy or cancellous bone (such as vertebrae) where the bone is crushed or collapses under pressure.

Depressed

A fracture in which a broken piece of bone (commonly in the skull) is pressed inward below the normal surface level